The report of the Strategic Director Children’s Services (Document “B”) provides an update on the developments and progress in respect of the delivery of the SEND reforms.  This report is an update to the report presented to the Committee on 13 February 2019. It updates the risk profile and impact of the work undertaken and provides and supports the updated SEND Action Plan.

Recommended -

That the Committee notes the contents of the report.

(Marium Haque – 01274 431078)

The report of the Strategic Director Children’s Services (Document “B”) provided an update on the developments and progress in respect of the delivery of the SEND reforms.  This report was an update to the report presented to the Committee on 13 February 2019. It updated the risk profile and impact of the work undertaken and provided and supports the updated SEND Action Plan.

The Deputy Director of Education reported that compliance rates within the statutory 20 week period for Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) had improved but it was still not good enough.  She added that the targeted assessment team had significantly reduced the backlog allowing staff to concentrate on new cases coming in.  All  of the 3,800 cases had been allocated to case workers and the teams were now aligned with schools.  She summarised the progress to date and the areas of risk as detailed in the report.

In response to a question from the Chair she expressed confidence that the issue of the department being spread over two floors would be resolved.

The Chair asked about progress in establishing a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Health and was advised that there had been a number of issues such as information governance between health and the Council but confidence was expressed that it should be in place by September 2019 and that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be kept up to date on progress.

Responses were given to member questions and member comments were made as follows:

·         Staff had been positive about the restructuring that would increase capacity and reduce workloads which had been welcomed by staff.  Consideration was being given to changing ways of working, some staff would require training and this had been welcomed.  It was accepted that there had been some anxiety because of the changes.

·         Personal budgets were a mandatory requirement.  Increasingly families felt the need to have more choice and to make decisions on how to meet their child’s needs.  It was noted that there had not been a significant closure of respite provision nationally as a consequence to the use of personal budgets.

·         A member referred to an example of a child moving to secondary school where there had been a delay in their EHCP and they had been allocated a school which was a  long way from their home.  She added that the quality of school SENCO’s varied from school to school.  She was extremely concerned that the waiting time for auditory appointments was 6 months and for an ADHD assessment it was 18 months .  In response the Deputy Director of Education reported that an SEN matrix of need had been launched on Bradford Schools on line and the Local Offer website.  All SENCO’s and head teachers had been invited to learn how to use the matrix to understand and meet the needs of children with SEND with or without an EHCP and to make their responsibilities and duties clear.  Over 65% of schools had attended two sessions and further training would take place in September.  A log of those schools that had attended would be kept and a rolling programme of training would continue.  Reference was also made to the Specialist Advisory Service that provided a fresh pair of eyes and could give advice on small changes that could make a difference.

·         In response to a member question whether Tracks in Shipley was to close it was noted that Tracks was for children who were medically unable to attend school and comprised of 3 PRU’s, the hospital schools at BRI and Airedale hospital and Tracks in Shipley.  Officers were looking at working with staff to allow them to operate not as schools.  It was confirmed that the main Tracks in Shipley was not closing.

·         It was noted that traditionally children with EHCP’s had three options, they could stay in school, go to a special school or go out of the district.  It was being proposed that provision would be made in mainstream schools in a specialist environment and that 354 additional places being created in the district.  Special School provision was also being increased.  Consultation had taken place with families in early April and Statutory Notices had been published in May.  A lot of responses had been received which had overwhelmingly been positive.

·         With reference to a member question on guidance to families regarding the use of personal budgets it was noted that how this was put into practice in Adult Services was being looked at.  There was a need to work with providers on what could be offered.

·         It was noted that the district historically had a low number of children identified with SEND and that there had been increase in the number of children with SEND so there would be additional demand for the 354 places.

·         With reference to the imminent SEND inspection it was noted that the authority was in a challenging situation, that progress was being made but that the progress needed to increase.  The authority was at the start of a journey but it should be further along from the reforms in 2014.  Health partners reiterated their commitment to work together with CCG’s and providers to improve SEND provision.  It was noted that early help and prevention had reduced funding since 2016 and that referrals to CAMHS had increased.

The Deputy Director of Education stressed that the Local Authority and CCG’s should be held to account and not let mediocre be acceptable.  It was added that partnership working was the key to moving forward.

Resolved -

(1)          That the contents of Document “B” be noted.

(2)          That the Committee requests a briefing note giving an update on progress to establish the single point of contact (SPOC) and the co-location of all the SEND teams within six weeks, and a verbal update at the next Committee meeting on 4 September 2019.

ACTION: Strategic Director Children’s Services